A shirtless, handcuffed inmate was seen dangling from a shattered rear window of a marked Oklahoma Department of Corrections van as it sped on Interstate 40 near the Skydance Bridge in downtown Oklahoma City, according to cellphone video that quickly circulated on social media.
The footage, shot Tuesday evening by sisters Tiggin and Alexis Martin as they trailed the transport westbound on I-40, shows the man contorting his body through the opening, shouting and gesturing toward drivers in nearby cars while the van continued down the freeway. The top portion of an orange jumpsuit was visible around his arms and wrists, and witnesses said the episode lasted "about a minute or two" before the van pulled off the highway.
Sisters Tiggin and Alexis Martin told KFOR and News4 they initially thought the scene might be a prank or part of a film shoot. "We thought it was a joke at first," Tiggin Martin said. At one point the pair and other drivers can be heard yelling on the tape, with one person shouting, "Don't you f***ing do it, bro!" out of concern the inmate might jump from the moving vehicle.
State officials confirmed the incident was real. In a statement issued Friday, the Oklahoma Department of Corrections said the van was on a "routine transport" when the inmate caused damage to the vehicle and began hanging out the back. "Our officers immediately recognized the situation, exited the highway, and called for additional law enforcement support," the agency said, adding that the individual was "safely secured" and the transport was completed without further incident.
The DOC declined to release the inmate's identity and did not indicate whether disciplinary action or an internal investigation was underway. The department did not explain how the inmate managed to break or dislodge the back window while handcuffed, or whether the van had been inspected before departure.
Some viewers questioned the authenticity of the footage when it first appeared online; state officials and multiple onlookers corroborated that the event occurred as shown. Alexis Martin expressed frustration about the perceived safety lapse, saying the situation put the inmate, the driver and other motorists at risk. "You should have had him in something a little safer," she said.
No injuries were reported in connection with the episode, and the Martin sisters said they were relieved that the incident ended without harm. The Oklahoma Department of Corrections said it remains "committed to transparency, accountability and ensuring the safety of all individuals in our care and all Oklahomans," but provided no further details about follow-up actions.
The viral video has drawn attention on social platforms and raised questions about transport procedures for incarcerated individuals, while state authorities have so far provided only the brief account in their statement. Local law enforcement agencies have not released additional information about any subsequent response or inquiries.